Middle School
Content Academy
SOL Prep
April 1 & April 2, 2015
Pocahontas Middle School & Fairfield Middle School
Setting the SOL Stage – Clear Expectations!
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Why is the SOL test important?
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Exam Exemption? Impacts overall grade for the course!
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Important to the school?
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Important to you?
Know your test! Inform your students!
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Look at the blueprint. How many strands?
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How many questions in each strand?
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What is the cut score? Advanced cut score?
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Math 6 = 56% (28/50), advanced 90% (45/50) CAT6!!!
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Math 7 = 62% (31/50), advanced 90% (45/50)
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Math 8 = 62% (31/50), advanced 92% (46/50)
How many questions should you get correct in order to pass?
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CAT6 - ????
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Math 7 & Math 8 (41) - Why?
Setting the SOL Stage – High Goals!
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Set individual and class goals
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Be realistic. 100% class pass rate?
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A/B students = advanced score = 500+
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B/C students = 450
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D/F students = 400
Explanation as to Why the Raw Scores Required
for “Pass/Proficient” and “Pass/Advanced” May Vary
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http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/
scoring/explanation_for_
cut%20scores.pdf
Giving the SOL Simulation
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Why are we giving a simulation?
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How are you giving it? Parts or one sitting?
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Simulate the testing environment.
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Clean Formula Sheet
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Clean Grid and Scratch Paper
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No Phones (collect them)
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Pencil and 1 other color (highlighter, pencil, or pen)
Math 7 & Math 8: Count the number correct; write this at the top of the page.
Planning for Review and Remediation
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Examine the data…determine the needs!
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What will give you the biggest bang for the buck?
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What topics need whole group remediation?
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What topics need small group remediation?
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Review by SOL objective and/or strand
How are you addressing this need?
Find time for remediation! Use backwards design to determine the schedule.
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Plan should be based on the amount of time allotted
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During school? After school? Weekends?
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Expedited Retakes!!! How does this impact your testing schedule?
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Where can you consolidate material? Teach vs. Cover?
Making Review Fun and Purposeful!
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Make review time meaningful for you and students.
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Think of SOL prep in the same manner as preparing for the SAT.
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Provide students with printed copies of aligned review materials.
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Create a packet
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Use simulation tests from previous years
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Have students track their own data - Chart student progress and growth
Work out problems prior to assigning them to students.
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Identify 2-3 different ways of working the problems
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Content, test-taking strategies, calculator strategies
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Establish a process for checking practice problems.
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TestNav and other online practice.
Questioning Techniques
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Explanation of answers is important. Do this regularly for multiple choice!
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How did you get your answer? Is it because of content or test-taking skills?
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Why are incorrect answers eliminated?
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Make sure all students believe they can find the right answer!
Error analysis on assessments – Why is work incorrect?
Brainstorm Incentives
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Class competitions? Teacher competitions?
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What do you want to emphasize?
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Participation? Growth? Effort? Organization? Group goals?
How do you want to reward students?
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Treats
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Celebrations
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Certificates
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Points
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Grades
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Raffle tickets
SOL Resources! What is out there?
We now begin your journey through the vast amounts of SOL resources…
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VDOE Materials
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Henrico Materials
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Miscellaneous/Odds & Ends
VDOE SOL Testing Preparation Resources
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Released Tests
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Released mathematics SOL tests from the Spring 2013 SOL Test Administration
were posted in spring 2014.
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Released EOC mathematics SOL item sets from the Spring 2014 SOL Test
Administration (Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II) were released in March
2015.
VDOE SOL Testing Preparation Resources
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SOL Practice Items
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Practice items provide examples of the new content and increased rigor
represented by the revised Standards of Learning (SOL) and illustrate the new
Technology-Enhanced Item types.
VDOE SOL Testing Preparation Resources
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Online Mathematics Tools Practice
Looking for a way for your students to practice with TestNav online
tools? Mathematics Tools Practice allows students to practice using the online
tools such as the ruler, protractor, or compass available within TestNav.
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Grades 3-8 Tools Practice
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End-of-Course Tools Practice
VDOE SOL Testing Preparation Resources
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Student Performance Analysis
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Performance analysis presentations contain concrete examples of the content
for which student performance was weak or inconsistent in past SOL test
administrations.
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Listen to the PPT presentations!
VDOE SOL Testing Preparation Resources
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Scratch paper must be of a single color and blank (must not contain any
words, numbers, symbols, labels, or graphics). Acceptable scratch paper
includes plain paper (no lines), lined paper, grid/graph paper, sticky notes,
and note cards.
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For online testing, the use of patty paper, dry-erase markers, and
transparencies is not permitted. Students may not trace images directly from
the computer monitor. Students may not hold anything up to the computer
monitor.
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Grid paper samples (PDF) – grid paper must be unmarked (no words, numbers,
symbols, labels or graphics) and contain squares of equal size. This sample
contains half inch, quarter inch, and centimeter grid paper, as well as a page
with eighth inch individual grids.
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No Axes!
VDOE SOL Testing Preparation Resources
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2009 SOL – Ancillary Test Materials for assessments based on the 2009
Mathematics Standards of Learning
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Ancillary Materials
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Grade 6 Formula Sheet (PDF)
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Grade 7 Formula Sheet (PDF)
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Grade 8 Formula Sheet (PDF)
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EOC Algebra I Formula Sheet (PDF)
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EOC Geometry Formula Sheet (PDF)
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EOC Algebra II Formula Sheet (PDF)
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Table of Standard Normal Probabilities (z-table) (PDF)
Calculators
VDOE Approved Calculators
 CASIO FX-260 School
 TI-30Xa Solar School Edition
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Additional Resources
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Henrico Website - Self-Assessments: Practice SOL questions in ExamView format
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Henrico Math SOL Resources – compilation of SOL review materials from different
counties
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Course 1, Course 2, Course 3
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Content academies – Review of Performance Analysis
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ExamView test banks
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Create SOL Packet using old versions of SOL Simulation (see 2014 Regional simulation
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Math Coach Books
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Jefferson Lab – You can personalize it!
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Houghton Mifflin Test Prep Packets
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Online Practice
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TTM
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TestNav
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AllenTeachers – TEI site
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Miscellaneous websites – IXL, Study Island
Review Strategies
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Sample: Chesterfield SOL mini quizzes (on Math SOL Resources Page)
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SOL tracker – charting student progress
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Students track their own progress, strengths and weaknesses
Review Strategies
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Sample Student Recording Chart
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http://www.glencoe.com/sites/common_assets/workbooks/math/AlgebraCAV
A/a1vasol2.pdf
Breakout Sessions!
Preparing for the SOL test
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http://blog1.glencoe.com/virginia/what%E2%80%99s-your-sol-strategy/
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Pre-game Prep:
1.
Go to bed early the night before the test. You’ll think more clearly after a good
night’s rest.
2.
Eat something healthy the morning of the test. You don’t want your stomach to
growl while you’re trying to concentrate.
3.
Relax. Most people get nervous when taking a test. That’s a natural reaction. Be
confident in your preparations and do your best.
Preparing for the SOL test
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How can you do well on multiple-choice questions?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Read the directions carefully to figure out which answer the test requires—the best
answer or the right answer. This is especially important when answer choices include “all
of the above” or “none of the above.”
Watch for negative words in the questions, such as not, except, unless, never, and so
forth. If the question contains a negative, the correct answer choice is the one that does
not fit.
Don’t make assumptions about what the question might be; read the whole question.
There’s a big difference between the questions “Do you like chocolate ice cream?” and
“Do you like only chocolate ice cream?”
Cover the options and try to answer the question in your head before reading the answer
choices.
Look for key words, or clues, in the question to support your answer.
Read every answer choice. Sometimes you’ll read the first answer and think it is
definitely right. Be careful! Read the other answer choices before marking your answer.
You might find an even better answer choice than the first one you liked.
Cross out answer choices that are obviously wrong. Then use the process of elimination
to choose an answer from those that remain.
When you have finished each question, reread it to make sure your answer is reasonable.
Preparing for the SOL test
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What about questions with graphics?
1.
Many questions on the SOLs have graphs, charts, maps, time lines, or political cartoons
that you need to use to find the answer.
2.
Read the title, labels, and keys. They each give important information for understanding
the graphic.
3.
Look closely at all the details. You can find a ton of information in the graph, chart, or
map if you look at the specifics as well as the big picture.
Preparing for the SOL test
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Crunch Time?
1.
Remember to pace yourself. If you work too quickly, you‘ll be more likely to make
mistakes. Instead, read each question and all the answer choices carefully.
2.
If you get stuck, mark the question for review, skip it, and answer the next
question. When you come to the last question, you can go back and reread those
questions you did not understand.